Sexual Abuse Affects Boys Too

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Sexual abuse affects boys and men too.

1 in 6 boys will be a victim of sexual abuse before the age of 18. But, in part due to lingering shame and stigmas, many victims don’t disclose the abuse until years later (if at all). They suffer in silence.

Court Stroud was one of those boys. He was 6 years old the first time he was sexually assaulted. He was in third-grade the next time he was assaulted. More assaults occurred in his teenage and young adult years. And yet, he told no one.

“This is a story I wasn’t comfortable talking about, even with those closest to me, until about four years ago,” Court says.

He did1 in 6 boys will be a victim of sexual abuse before the age of 18. But, in part due to lingering shame and stigmas, many victims don’t disclose the abuse until years later (if at all). n’t tell his mother (and other close relatives) about the abuse until his Newsweek essay, “After 50 Years of Sexual Assault Shame, I’m Finally Reclaiming My Voice,” won a prestigious journalism award in the Spring of 2022. He learned then “that the terror they were going to reject me” was all in his head. Sharing his story, he hopes, will help others.

“We’re only as sick as our secrets,” Court says. “The more transparently that I’m able to live, the healthier I’m able to be. The silence was worse than the incident.”

Need help or support? Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.